The Alfa Romeo 4C is a small, lightweight, rear wheel drive sports car, similar in size to the Alfa Romeo MiTo. It uses a carbon fiber tub, front and rear crash box, and hybrid rear frame mainly out of aluminum to keep its weight at 895 kilograms (1,973 lb); 995 kilograms (2,194 lb) in the United States. The 4C will be the first mass-produced Alfa Romeo car for re-entry into the US market by 2014.

The 4C concept version unveiled in the 81st Geneva Motor Show in March 2011, followed by Mille Miglia 2011 parade, Goodwood Festival of Speed 2011, 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show.

It was displayed first time outside in Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este in 2012. Compared to the production version, it's very similar, with the biggest differences being front lights, side vents and mirrors.

Awards

The Alfa Romeo 4C Concept was voted the 'Most Beautiful Concept Car of the Year' award by the readers of German magazine Auto Bild, and won the Auto Bild Design Award 2011. It was awarded the "Design Award for Concept Cars & Prototypes" by referendum of the public in Villa d'Este.

Sales of the US models of Alfa Romeo 4C were delayed until the second quarter of 2014.

4C Spider

Alfa Romeo officially announced a Spider version of the 4C at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show, that comes with a manual removable hard top. The engine is the same as the Coupe version but 4C Spider has different external parts like the headlights, exhaust and engine hood. Alfa admits it has had to make some strengthening tweaks to the 4C to cope with being decapitated, with the net result being a 60 kg (132 lb) weight increase.

Launch Edition (2013-)

The Launch Edition vehicles are limited (400 in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, 500 in North America and 100 in the rest of the world) versions of the early production Alfa Romeo 4C units. The vehicle includes a choice of 2 body colours (Alfa Red, Carrara White), carbon aerodynamic kit (including headlights, spoiler and door mirror covers), rear aluminium extractor with dark finishing, Bi-LED headlights, 18-inch front and 19-inch rear alloy wheels with burnishing treatment, front air intakes and brake calipers in a specific colour, racing exhaust system with BMC air cleaner, and suspension kit with specific calibration for shock absorbers and rear anti-roll bar, highlights provided by the leather/fabric sports seats with parts in Alcantara, numbered carbon badge. For Alfa Red body colour car, it included red stitching on the steering wheel trim, handbrake, mats, handles and sports seats. The vehicle was unveiled in 2013 Geneva Motor Show.

Body and chassis

Differences between the 4C concept (left) and the production model 4C (right)

4C carbon frame

4C Concept

The car was designed by Alfa Romeo Centro Stile (Style Centre) and developed by Alfa Romeo. The carbon fiber tub is produced by TTA (Tecno Tessile Adler) in Airola, a joint venture between Adler and Lavorazione Materiali Compositi (Lmc). The body will not be made entirely of carbon fiber, with the front and rear frames being aluminium. This increases the weight to around 900 kg (2,000 lb).

The chassis of the car weighs only 65 kilograms (143 lb) and is a single carbon fibre body, just like that in supercars. Outer body is made of composite material which is 20% lighter than steel body, stability is comparable to steel and better than aluminium.

Powertrain and performance

4 cylinder 1750 TBi (direct injection turbo)

The 4C uses a new all-aluminium 1.75 L (1,742 cc) 240 horsepower (180 kW) at 6000 rpm inline 4 cylinder turbocharged engine. The engine has been designed for minimum weight, and will probably also appear in the 159 replacement, the Giulia. The engine CO2 emissions are 157 g/km and combined fuel consumption 6.8 L/100 km (42 mpg-imp; 35 mpg-US). 0–62 miles per hour (0–100 km/h) acceleration is achieved in 4.5 seconds and the top speed is 258 km/h (160 mph), the power-to-weight-ratio being just 0.33 hp/kg (8.22 lb/hp). Journalist of the Quattroruote car magazine demonstrated how the 4C accelerates from 0–100 kilometres per hour (0–62 mph) faster than 4.5 seconds. In race mode, with left foot on the brake pedal, if you pull the right shift paddle engine will rev at 3500 rpm, but if you pull also the left paddle engine will rev as 6000 rpm and 0–100 kilometres per hour (0–62 mph) time will go down to 4.2 seconds.

Alfa Romeo has also confirmed a new 1.8 litre, 300 PS (221 kW) engine, which may appear in the 4C.

Italian car magazine Quattroruote published the lap time of 4C around Nurburgring. It managed to do it in 8:04.

The 4C is equipped with six speed Alfa TCT Dual Dry Clutch Transmission, and can be operated via gearshift paddles on the steering wheel. It also has an Alfa 'DNA' dynamic control selector which controls the behavior of engine, brakes, throttle response, suspension and gearbox. In addition to the modes already seen in Giulietta, the 4C has a new "Race" mode.

Specifications

Top speed

258km/h (160mph)

0-100km/h (0-60mph)

4.5 seconds

Type

Straight-4

Displacement

1.75L (1742cc)

Power

240 PS (180 kW; 240 hp) @ 6,000 rpm

Torque

350 Nm (260 lbft)

Lateral
Acceleration

1.1 g

Equipment

The 4C has a high quadrilateral suspension at the front and MacPherson struts in the rear. Resultant weight distribution is 38% on the front and 62% on the rear axle. The front and rear rims are a different diameter and width; 205/45 R17 front and 235/40 R18 back as standard, with optional 205/40 R18 and 235/35 R19. Both wheel options are shod with Pirelli P Zero tyres. The 4C has ventilated disc brakes in all corners, in front Brembo 305 millimeters and in the rear 292 millimeters. The car can stop from 100 km/h in 36 meters. To save weight and increase steering feel, the 4C has no power steering.

Motorsport

On 2013-09-12, Alfa Romeo 4C (with Pirelli P Zero Trofeo tyres) driven by Horst von Saurma completed the Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit at in just 8 minutes 4 seconds, breaking speed record for all production cars with engines under 250 HP.

Alfa Romeo 4C was used as an Official Safety car of the SBK Superbike World Championship in 2013 season.

Production

The chassis '4C000' was unveiled in 2013 Geneva Motor Show.

Production of 4C began May 2013 at Maserati's plant in Modena, with an expected production of up to 2500 units per year. It will be the first mass-produced Alfa Romeo car for re-entry into the US market.

Production of Alfa Romeo 4C was originally estimated to be over 1000 units per year, with upper limit of 3500 units per year, depending on the quantity of carbon fiber chassis could be built by supplier Adler Plastic. Within the 3500-unit quota, 1,000 units of which are earmarked for Europe.

Awards

The Alfa Romeo 4C has received a number of awards worldwide, including:

"Most Beautiful Car of the Year 2013" at the 29th International Automobile Festival in France—with 41 percent of the votes, ahead of the BMW 4 Series (25% of the vote), Mercedes-Benz CLA(22%), and Mazda3 (12%). More than 100,000 votes were cast in more than 50 countries.

Alfa Romeo 4C was awarded 'Best Sports Car 2013' under the compact supercar category by El Economista vote. Readers of 'Auto Zeitung' named it winner of the "Sportscars/Imported" category of the 26th edition of 'Auto Trophy' with 17.2% of the votes—beating out more expensive models like the Aston Martin V8 Vantage (16.6%) and the Jaguar F-Type (15.8%). It won the Reader Award for "the most exciting car to be launched in 2013" from 'What Car?'. FHM magazine named it 2013 Car of the Year.

Marketing

As part of Alfa Romeo 4C launch, Alfa Romeo Style Centre and Compagnia Ducale designed a 4C IFD(Innovative Frame Design) Bicycle, inspired by the Alfa Romeo 4C coupé. The vehicle went on sale in December 2013 and marketed in Europe, Asia and America.Back to Alfa RomeoLast updated on 30 March 2014 at 09:32.